Is Apogee in a class by itself among planars?

Rgs92

I have owned Magneplanars since about 1978 and I have Tympani IVa's in my latest system.

Along the way, I have also tried a few sets of monitors, a pair of Martin Logan SL3s for few years, and I reluctantly admit (at least in this forum) that I have found Wilson Watt/Puppies to sound pretty good at one of my local dealers.

From about 1993 to 1997, I had a later pair of Apogee Stages, without the additional woofers, but using the enclosure as stands to raise them up a bit. I had a Mark Levinson 30.1 transport, an Aragon DAC, a Jadis JPL preamp and an Aragon 4004 MK II.

Of all the various permutations of components and systems I have used over the years -- yes, that one had perhaps the most UNCANNY presence and midrange I have ever heard.

For the first time since I was a kid with my new turntable and MG-1bs, I would stay up late at night, my room lit only by the fireplace and listen until 2:00 in the morning.

My biggest complaint was that the image height was a bit squashed and on reflection, perhaps also a bit diffuse. I would agree that the bass, at least on the Stage, was a little rolled off. Also, although not as bad as Magneplanars in this regard, they did need a bit of power and volume to get them going.

But in general, a very musical, easy to listen to, non fatiguing speaker.

I am not familiar with their bigger models, and believe some were difficult to drive. But I would guess a pair of the giant ones, well placed in a good room, with some monstrous class A amps or something, would be one of the best examples of "high end" audio ever.

Good luck.

cheers

cwlondon

My memory of the old Apogees is fading, so it's hard for me to compare, but the Analysis Plus speakers available now sounded better to me than I recall the Apogees at the time, particularly in the bass. A friend of mine who hates planars has actually admitted he might like to own them if he had the room and the cash. There is something special about the old Apogees, though they weren't exactly my cup of tea overall; I think that the Analysis Plus has a bit of that too.

The Stage is a very special speaker...midrange to die for when properly driven, In "that area" it is in a "Class by itself".

I own a pair of Duetta Signatures...properly setup in a large dedicated room...I'm MORE than happy.

Dave

Not really a panar and weak at frequency extremes smal chamber classical,folk,voocal and jazz fols can't do better than Quads.But have to second the nod on Maggie 20.1 as being "more of eveything with a hell of a tonal reporoduction.Even 3.6's with tubes running them (the more the merrier atbleast 100 if not something like a VTL 450)may be best value you can get if you have right room accepting mate and can place them right.
Chazzbo

First of all, Apogee are not planars. They are ribbons. I owned the Scintillas (their 3 way design) many years ago. They were magical at first. However, after living with them for a while, their shortcommings became evident. They did some very impressive things, but did not have the palpability, transparency and the all important dynamic contrasts which makes reproduced music come to life. I found that great dynamic speakers sound the closest to live music.